San José State University Writing Center
www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
Written by Danny Spiteri
Editing: Meaningful Word and Punctuation Choices
The English language can be confusing because it has so many seemingly arbitrary rules, and not
all resources that explain these rules make them accessible beyond rote memorization. The
missing element in many resources is a method for retaining that information logically.
Specifically, putting the rules of grammar in terms of how they interact with meaning creates a
link that facilitates comprehension.
Strategy: Stop, Translate, and Decide
No definitive list of steps can be a one-size-fits-all solution to every issue, but a general set of
steps can help you engage logically with a challenging concept. The strategy outlined in this
handout is divided into three steps: stop, translate, and decide.
Stop
To stop is simply to pause for enough time to consider meaning. This step is mostly selfexplanatory, but it is crucial to remember that this method involves more critical thinking than
tacit knowledge.
Translate
To translate is to break a sentence down to its core meaning. This step requires looking precisely
at definitions and syntax.
Decide
To decide is to pick the most appropriate option according to the translation.
The rest of this handout will walk you through some examples of this strategy in practice and ask
you to complete some activities to practice the strategy yourself.
Example 1: If vs. Whether
Which example is correct? Why?
1. I don‟t care if you get good grades.
2. I don‟t care whether you get good grades.
Stop
 Consider the true meaning of “if.” It translates to “in the event that.”
 Consider the definition of “whether.” It denotes a statement that applies to either
of multiple alternatives.
Translate
each sentence.
Translate
“I don‟t care if you get good grades” translates to “In the event that you get good
grades, I don‟t care.”
“I don‟t care whether you get good grades” translates to “Regardless of how good
your grades are, I don‟t care.”
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Decide
Gauge whether “In the event of you getting good grades, I don‟t care” accurately
reflects your meaning by comparing it to “Regardless of how good your grades are, I
don‟t care.”
Generally, “whether” is the correct choice, expressing that the speaker does not care about the
quality of the other person‟s grades. However, “if” is correct when the event of the other person
getting good grades triggers the speaker not caring. Expanding this sentence to provide context
can clarify this relationship. For example, with an added prepositional phrase, “I don‟t care about
your work habits if you get good grades” shows that the other person‟s getting good grades leads
the speaker not to care about that person‟s work habits.
Activity 1: Deciding About Word Choice Through Meaning
Sometimes, two different words or phrases seem like viable choices in a sentence. As a writer,
you may be tempted to choose indiscriminately, for the words or phrases seem interchangeable.
However, in many cases, the choice heavily influences the meaning of the sentence. In some
instances, certain choices are necessarily incorrect; in others, either choice could work, but each
suggests a specific meaning that will not work in every case.
In this activity, your job is to translate each sentence to represent its meaning without the use of
the underlined word. Then, determine whether each choice is ever appropriate to use. Finally,
explain why. If a choice is never appropriate to use, explain. If it can be, explain in which cases
it would be appropriate.
Example 2: If vs. Whether
Which example is correct? Why?
1. I do not know if the concert takes place today or tomorrow.
2. I do not know whether the concert takes place today or tomorrow.
 Consider the true meaning of “if.” It translates to “in the event that.”
 Consider the definition of “whether.” It denotes a statement that applies to either
of multiple alternatives.
Translate Translate each sentence.
Stop
1. The concert may take place today or tomorrow, but I do not know that it will take
place on either day.
2. The concert will take place either today or tomorrow, but I do not know on which
of the two days it will take place.
Decide
1. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they do not know if
the concert will occur at all on either of the two days.
2. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they know the concert
will occur on one of the two days, but they do not know which one.
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1. “Affect” vs. “Effect”
a. The documentary affected changes in global policy.
b. The documentary effected changes in global policy.
Stop: Look up the definitions of these two words. Write them below.
Affect:
Effect:
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
a.
b.
2. “If” vs. “Whether”
a. I do not know if Marina likes to eat chicken or pork.
b. I do not know whether Marina likes to eat chicken or pork.
Stop: Look up the definitions of these two words. Write them below.
If:
Whether:
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
a.
b.
3. “Complement” vs. “Compliment”
a. Oscar complements Tasha‟s new happy-go-lucky attitude.
b. Oscar compliments Tasha‟s new happy-go-lucky attitude.
Stop: Look up the definitions of these two words. Write them below.
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Complement:
Compliment:
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
a.
b.
4. “Couldn‟t Care Less” vs. “Could Care Less”
a. I couldn‟t care less whether you like to do your homework.
b. I could care less whether you like to do your homework.
Stop: Think through the use of the negative contraction couldn’t together with less.
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
a.
b.
5. “Wary” vs. “Weary”
a. I am wary because I have been hurt so many times.
b. I am weary because I have been hurt so many times.
Stop: Look up the definitions of these two words. Write them below.
Wary:
Weary:
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
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a.
b.
6. “Since” vs. “Because”
a. I have been hungry since my microwave broke.
b. I have been hungry because my microwave broke.
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
a.
b.
Activity 2: Deciding About Punctuation Through Meaning
Sometimes, a punctuation mark can drastically change the meaning of a sentence. Therefore, it is
crucial to understand how punctuation affects meaning.
In this activity, your job is to translate each sentence to clarify how the underlined punctuation
marks function. Then, determine whether each choice is ever appropriate to use. Finally, explain
why. If a choice is never appropriate to use, explain. If it can be, explain in which cases it would
be appropriate.
Example 3: Comma Use with a Subordinate Clause
Which example is correct? Why?
a. I do not think that Sheila attended the meeting because she is sick.
b. Because she is sick, I do not think that Sheila attended the meeting.
Look closely at “because.” Is there more than one verb in this sentence? If so, is it
clear to which verb “because” applies? If not, how can you make that clear?
Translate Translate each sentence.
Stop
a. I do not think that the reason Sheila attended the meeting is that she is sick.
b. Because she is sick, I do not think that Sheila attended the meeting.
Decide
a. Somewhat. It is unclear whether “because” applies to “attended” or “think.” If it
applies to “attended,” writers could mean that although Sheila attended the meeting,
they do not know whether her being sick is why. If it applies to “think,” writers
could mean that Sheila‟s being sick has led them to think that she did not attend the
meeting. For the former meaning, writers may clarify by following the sentence with
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another, such as “I think she attended for another reason.” For the latter, option b is
the clearest choice.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that Sheila‟s being sick has
led them to think that she did not attend the meeting.
1. Comma With “Because”
a. I do not want to study because I have a lot of homework.
b. Because I have a lot of homework, I do not want to study.
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
a.
b.
2. Comma With Adjectives
a. At the church, I had a deep religious experience.
b. At the church, I had a deep, religious experience.
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
a.
b.
3. Comma With Names
a. I would like to eat Jerry.
b. I would like to eat, Jerry.
Translate:
a.
b.
Decide:
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a.
b.
Answer Key for Activity 1
1. Translate:
a. Changes in global policy existed independently of the documentary, but the documentary
later impacted them.
b. Changes in global policy did not exist independently of the documentary; the
documentary catalyzed them.
Decide:
a. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that the documentary impacted
preexisting changes in global policy.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that the documentary was the
source of changes in global policy.
2. Translate:
a. Marina may like to eat chicken or pork, but I do not know that she likes to eat either.
b. Marina either likes to eat chicken or pork, but I do not know which one.
Decide:
a. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they do not know that Marina
likes to eat either type of meat at all.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they know Marina likes to eat
one of these types of meat, but they do not know which one.
3. Translate:
a. Oscar speaks nicely to Tasha about her new happy-go-lucky attitude.
b. Oscar suits Tasha‟s new happy-go-lucky attitude.
Decide:
a. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that Oscar is saying kind words to
Tasha about her new happy-go-lucky attitude.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that Oscar is a positive component
to Tasha‟s new happy-go-lucky attitude.
4. Translate:
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a. I care so little about how much you like doing your homework that I could not care any
less.
b. I care at least somewhat about how much you like doing your homework, so it is possible
that I could care less.
Decide:
a. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they do not care at all whether
you like to do your homework.
b. No. This example is unacceptable as a way for writers to say that they do not care
whether you like to do your homework. If they mean to say that they do care, there are
clearer ways to say it.
5. Translate:
a. I am cautious because I have been hurt so many times.
b. I am exhausted because I have been hurt so many times.
Decide:
a. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that being hurt so many times has
caused them to be cautious.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that being hurt so many times has
caused them to be exhausted.
6. Translate:
a. From the moment my microwave broke until now, I have been hungry.
b. As a result of my microwave breaking, I have been hungry.
Decide:
a. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they have been hungry
between now and when their microwave broke.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they have been hungry as a
result of their microwave breaking.
Answer Key for Activity 2
1. Translate:
a. My reason for wanting to study is not that I have a lot of homework.
b. Due to my having a lot of homework, I do not want to study.
Decide:
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a. Somewhat. It is unclear whether “because” applies to “study” or “want.” If it applies to
“study,” writers could mean that they want to study, but their reason for wanting to study
is not that they have a lot of homework. If it applies to “want,” writers could mean that
they do not want to study, and their having a lot of homework is why.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they do not want to study, and
their having a lot of homework is why. The comma clarifies the sentence by proving that
“because” does not apply to “study.”
2. Translate:
a. At the church, the religious experience I had was deep.
b. At the church, the experience I had was deep and religious.
Decide:
a. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they had a religious
experience that was deep.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to say that they had an experience that
was both deep and religious.
3. Translate:
a. Jerry looks like an appealing meal.
b. I am telling Jerry that I would like to eat.
Decide:
a. Unlikely, but yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to express cannibalistic
intent.
b. Yes. This example is acceptable if writers mean to tell Jerry that they would like to eat.
References
Clarke, Kamryn. “Commonly Misused Words, Part I.” San José State University Writing Center.
San José State University, June 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Fogarty, Mignon. “„Could Care Less‟ Versus „Couldn't Care Less‟” Quick and Dirty Tips.
Macmillan Holdings, 9 July 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Fogarty, Mignon. “„If‟ Versus „Whether‟” Quick and Dirty Tips. Macmillan Holdings, 6 Mar.
2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Fogarty, Mignon. “When to Use a Comma Before „Because‟” Quick and Dirty Tips. Macmillan
Holdings, 5 Sep. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
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Gehring, Mitchell. “Commonly Misused Words, Part II.” San José State University Writing
Center. San José State University, June 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Mills, Bonnie T. “„Because,‟ „Due To,‟ „Since,‟ and „As‟” Quick and Dirty Tips. Macmillan
Holdings, 27 Nov. 2009. Web. 01 Apr. 2015.
Mills, Bonnie T. “Commas With Adjectives” Quick and Dirty Tips. Macmillan
Holdings, 27 Nov. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Straus, Jane. “Commas.” Commas. GrammarBook.com, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
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